Maluleka hopes to celebrate in style
ALONG with a new year comes a long list of resolutions, and George Maluleka, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Thursday, could use a fresh start at Kaizer Chiefs.
The former SuperSport United and Ajax Cape Town player exudes the confidence of a senior player at the club, but he’s been a bit part player under Steve Komphela.
“I need to be a little more consistent because I have been blowing hot and cold here and there,” the midfielder said, speaking ahead of Amakhosi’s opening Absa Premiership clash of 2016 against log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium today (8.15pm).
“With the chances that I’ve had, I feel I have done enough. But it is obviously all up to the coach and I will always try to provide whatever is needed. I will fight for the team.”
Title-winning coach Stuart Baxter, who was succeeded by Komphela in June, hand-picked Maluleka to join Chiefs two years ago and the player seemed to be growing in confidence under the Englishman and was crowned MTN8 Player of the Tournament last season, helping the club take home the title as he pocketed a cool R80 000 for his efforts.
He has made 14 appearances in all competitions under the new coach but has yet to start a match.
It would be a massive boost for his hopes for 2016 if the former junior national team player could be thrown a lifeline when fourth-placed Chiefs host Sundowns, a side Maluleka admits deserve their place at the top of the table following their unbeaten run.
“It’s been almost a month since we lost to them in the Telkom Knockout final (a 3-1 hammering at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium) and I believe we have been working hard to rectify our mistakes,” he said.
“There’s a lot that has been said (by the coach). I think we are a lot more prepared this time, even though not much has changed in terms of the playing personnel.
“We haven’t had the best of starts, but it hasn’t been the worst either. We have dropped unnecessary points with all the draws that we’ve had, which is unacceptable for a team like Chiefs to be fourth on the table and to have also lost out on two cup finals.
“In all the games we played, I don’t think the football has been that great, but we managed to get the maximum points in some of them.”
Maluleka said despite the criticism that Amakhosi have begun their title defence limping, the pressure was on Sundowns to keep winning.
“Everyone else is trying to catch them, but our fans will always put us under pressure because we are a big club,” he explained.
“Sundowns have gone through a very smooth ride with everything going their way. They have done what they needed to do and went top of the log, but it won’t be easy to maintain because everyone is gunning for them now. We are one of those teams and it starts this weekend.”
Both sides are likely to have fully fit squads, with the Brazilians welcoming back captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele, who missed the cup final due to a muscle injury.
Chiefs have goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and defender Eric Mathoho available.